Office partition



Oct. 25. 1927.

s. LOWY .OFFICE PARTITION Filed Maron v', 1925 2 lSmets-sheen;

` BY f W ATroRNEY Oct.4 2'5, 1927.

S. LOWY oFF-Ici: PARTITION l Filed March 7, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 13' W67 12 j INVENTOR I SAMUEL LOM/Y .4- ATTORNEY sAMUEL'LowY, or NEW YORK, N. YQ,

OFFICE PARTITION.

' Appiicanon fusa-Marcil 7,1925. serial 1510.113311.

My'invention'relates to the construction olppartitions, such as are put; up in oiices 1 and. similar spaces, andL more particularly to thepilasters forming part oi suchparvtitions..l 1, f

in the present day Construction o .l partitions lot this character, ythe pilasters have to be nailed to the ceiling or otherwise secured thereto in av'way whichfnot only tends to deface theceiling, but makes the removal ot', the partition or its extension cumbersome. `Besides,'wood oi' which such partitions are usually made shrinks, `and it often becomes vnecessary toraise a partition, and in such a case, with the present construction, one is compelled to ltear the partition to pieces,

or to remove lthe partition.

involving much labor and leading to much deiacement.y Nor is the detacing Vcontined tothe ceiling. Thepresent type of partition has to be'nailed or screwed to the door also, lagain'adding to the labor and detacelnent'of the room when it is'. desired to move In my inventiom all ofv the aforesaid draw backs of Vthe prevailing type otjpartitions are eliminated. The pilasters are not nailed to thel ceiling, but are held infirm Contact therewith by pressure. When the partition is removed, the ceiling f isV not f detaced. Vfhen the wood shrinks, the partitionv may be raised to thenecessary height lwithout reo moving nails and screws, merely by turning certain extension members inthe pilasters,

'until'they make contact Vwith the ceiling,

when they are again locked'in this position. Likewise, there is no nailingorscrewing of the partition to the floor. The "partition rests on the floor by virtue otits'own weight.

*All adjustments-are easily made andfall parts are interchangeable'. Other purposes and advantages ot'my invention will become apparent from the detailed descripf tion thereoj:l which follows. I

lReferring tothe drawings, Figure 17is a frontview of mypartition when it doesnot extend all A,the way to V'the ceiling; Figure 2 is a rontrview ot my invention when the partition isl raised .up to thefpceiling; Figure 3 is a vertical section through a pilastei' of my partition;vFigur`e 4 'isa cross section along the'line 44vof Figure 2, showing `a detail of the upper end of Vthe pilaster eX- tension; Figurev 5i's-a cross .section along the line 5--5 of Figure 2 showing the interconnection of ceiling strip, cross rail and pi- .laster extension, Figure 6 'is a crosssection which the fillers 7fit tightly.

cal grooves 9 in the acings 6 provideY means cooperating along the line 6-6'`O FigureQ, showing lthe connection between the eXten-sionot lthe pilaster and the adjacent glass-panels; F igure tions;v and :Figure 8 is across section along the linef8-k-8 Yofl*`1gure 3 'showing' the man ner ot connecting the partition ,sections or "panels to the Vpilaster and floor strip. l

The structural element-s of my invention, as disclosed in the aforesaid dra-wings, willy now be enun'ie'rated. In allv of the fiigures,

V1 denotes 'a partition,composed of pilasters l '2 and partition sections or panels 3, the pilasters 2 being extensible and comprising aholl'ow `main poste and an' 'extension post 5, thisextensioii post `5 vbeing concealed inthe `hollow post 4 in Figure 1 andfraised in FigV ure 2. The main hollowpost 4 is made up. ofthe tacings 6,' 6, vandthe lillers 7,7, the 'tacings 6 having verticalgrooves'8 within Other verti- 7 is "a cross section alongl the lined-1 7 of" 7 v,Figure 3, showing {the connection between the pilaster and the; adjacentpartitionsec- Vfor vthe ymovement therein of the extension f post of. the [pilaster',- as further below explained. lOn the'iloor 10 arerlaid metal plates v11 having 'sharp edged Atlanges' 12 adapted to sink into the fioorunder the ii weight ot the partition'l. `Between .the .base plates 11 and the partition are door strips 13, groo'ved at 14: torv the receptionolt the lower edges of thepartition sections- 3.` On the floor Vstrips 13'. are placed the woodenblocks 15, within the hollow main post-'of the pi-I laster, Aand on top of the block l5 rests a metal base` plate 16 into whichis fittedV a ver# -ticall threaded post 17. This threaded post 17 extends upwards within a fewinches from the top of the main hollow-post ,4. A tubu-y lar post 18y surrounds the t-hreadedpost 17 and is provided near'its loweifiend with internal threads, as, for instance, bymeans ot a nut 19, the threads of the tubular post k18 A. collar or flange QOis fitted around the tubular post near `its lower, .endV or this ycollar may, asin `the drawing, forma part of the by means ot a pin 21. Surrounding-fthetubular post 18 is a metal'guide boX 22 grooved imi with the threads ofthe post 17. y

at 28 to receivethe collar' 20,"said collar 20- being tree torotatein said groovefQS... rlhe box 22 is preferably hollow, tol reduceQits weight, and made up of twofparts'to rallow its insertion inplace. `On topoftheboXvQZ i 'Y nut 19, the nutv19 being iix'ed to the post 18 i rests the extension post composed of the facings 24 for the tubular post 18. These facings 211- are adapted to slide in the grooves 9 of the hollow post t and are free to slidey l along the -tubular post 18. The facings 24 are formed in a way to permit the joining thereto of -`glass panels 25 which areheld in place by thermolding` 26. Near the upper rend of the tubular post 18, it is provided lar post'18, and al hole 31 through the journal of the swivelled member 2Q is adapted Y to register Vwith one or another of the perforations in the plug 28 and tubular post 18, permitting the insertion of a pin 31l therethrough to lock the swi'vellcd member against rotation relativelyto the tubular A,post 18. In the U angle of the swivelled member 29iests a ceiling strip 32, which may be recessed in the usual manner to present a uniform plane surface. throughout- A cross rail 33 lies under the ceiling strip 32, anda lcornice iinishes up the top of the partition and holds the ceiling strip 32, cross rail 33 and facings 24 of the extension post together by means of screws 35.

The operation of my device will now be briefly explained. partition that does not extend to the ceiling, as shown in Figure 1. ln this case the extensionY parts of the pilastei's remain concealed in the main hollow posts and the partition is put up by joining together the interchangeable elements, i. e. the pilasters, partition sections, floor strips and plates, and finishing-rails and'inoldings, in stand-- ard fashion in so far as the joining of the lpartition sections or panels to the pilasters is concerned, but without nailing or screwing the partition to the floor. The weight of the partition, which is comparatively greater than that of ordinary wooden partitions` because of the metal parts enclosed in tliehollow pilasters, is suilicient to force.

the ysharp edged iianges of the floor plates into the floor even when the latter is of cement. It 'is not necessary to actually force the plates Aintolthe floor to such an extenttliat the floor is defaced thereby, a. slight impress into the floorbeing generally sufficient` when the partition is not of great length. When the length of the partition is great, it is'better `to extend some of the pila'stcrs to the ceiling in order to hold the partition in place. VThe extending of the pilasters and of the partition will now be efiplained.

The extension part-of the pilast-er comprises, first, the'tubular post 18, and, second,

XVe will first consider av the facings 24 thei'efor. To extend the pilaster, the tubular post 18 is taken hold of,

and raised by causing it to turn on the threaded post 17 by a screw motion. To facilitate this raising, a pin or handlemay be inserted intothe perforations 27 near the upper end of the post 18, using this pin or handle as a lever. When the tubular post reaches the ceiling, a ceiling strip is laid into the` U shaped member, after which the post 18 is forced upwards until it exert-s considerable pressure on the ceiling. 1n order to prevent the U shaped member from turning it is best to have the ceiling strip pass through two or more successive pilaster extensions in the same manner, while theunscrewing of the tubular post is prevented by locking it in the position abutting on the ceiling, which, may beaccomplished by passing pin 31 through the hole 31' in the journal 30 of the swivelled member 29 and one of the perforations in the tubular post and plug. To provide for the case when exact registry ofthe hole 31 with the-perforations 27 in the post may not be effected, a shim 36 may be used between the top surface of the plug 28 and the bottom surface of the U shaped angle 29. .Wliile the tubularpost 18 is being raised, the collar 20'turns in the groove 23 of the guide box 22 and raises the box, which, in turn, raises the facings 24rupwa-rds. At the moment when the tubular post abuts on theceiling, the facings 24, which do rnot quite reach the upper end of the post, in order to permit the taking holdV thereof, as explained, will leave an uncovered Y but, it is preferable to raise/the facings 24 which are slidable on the tubular post, until.

they entirely cover the tubular post, after j which they are made to hold in place by securing thereto the cornice 311-, which at the Y same time secures together the ceiling strip and cross rail. i Y

Any uneven'ness of the hoor may be cor.-

re'cted either by proper thickness of the lioor strips at various points, or by adjusting the thickness of the blocks 15. The material, except the floor and base plates, may be wood throughout, but the threaded post and the vtubular post ai'e preferably of metal. Of course, the entire partition may be of metal,

lt will be seen that the partition is firmly held in position by the floor plates at the bottom and by the pressureof the .pilasters against the' ceilino' on top, without the necessity of nailing or screwingany part of thepartition to either floor or ceiling. ltwill also be seen that all adjustments of height, whethercalled for by shrinking ef the wood, or by changing to another location with a different ceiling, maybe effected without-.the use of nails and screws and'without defacing lli the floor or ceiling. Noris my construction limited to walls 'between kfloor and` ceiling.

The principle of holding awall in. position by.A the pressurebf. the? posts against the surfaces on which they abutis equally applicablev to cases where awall or partition is to neednot even be parallel.` Thus', inthe case where one o f thev surfaces'onwhioh the posts abut is a dome', I may still use my construc-ly tion, with some modification which is obvious to those skilled in the/art. in general,

' Vl dolnot wish'to .be limited tor the 'specific structure illustrated in the drawings, and it is to be understood that any addition, omis'- sion or modi'cation may be effected lin the application of my inventionwithin the knowledge of those familiarwith the art that would naturally suggest itself, 'without detracting from Vthe spirit-or scope'rofmy invention.

l. claim: Y v

l. An extensible `pilaster Vcomprising a main hollow post, lathreaded post vxed at the base thereof andv extending vertically within said hollow post, a tubular post surrounding said threaded post and having threads vco` operating with the threads thereof, a pilaster extension between said. tubular postI and said main hollow post, and means for raising said pilaster extension whensaid tubular post is caused to rotate on said threaded post.

,@An extensible pilaster comprising a main hollow post providedavith internal vertical guides, a body fitted thereinto at the basethereof, 'a threaded post fitted into said body Vand extendingupward therefrom `within said hollow post, a tubular post 4coaxial with and enclosing` said threaded post, said tubular post being providedv with ythreads at vits lower end cooperating withl the threads of said threaded post, a facing for said tubular post adapted to slide along said vertical guides, and means for raising` said facing` when said tubular post is caused Ato rotate on said threaded post.v

3.V An extensible pilaster comprising a main hollow post provided with internal vertical grooves, a block fitted thereinto at` the base thereof, a base plate on said block, a threaded post fitted into saidbase plate and extending upward therefrom within said hollow post, a tubular ypost coaxial with and surrounding said threaded post, said tubular post being provided with internalthreads cooperating with the threads ofl said threaded post, a collar on said tubular post, a guide box around said tubular post fitted into said hollow post, a circular 'groove in Y said guide `box-within which said collar may freely rotate, a facing for said tubular post resting on said guide box and adapted tov slide along'said vertical grooves and along said tubular post, perforations in said tubu lar posti near its upper end, a plug closing said upper end and. having kperforations thestructure of said pilasters.' l I 6. In a partitioina plurality of extensible -iegisteiiiig'-ivith the vperforationsfinsaidl Y and' said perforations registering therewith. effi partition con'iprisingla,plurality of .joined to saidv pilasters.

tubular f'post, a'U shaped member svvivelling in' said `plug,aihole through the o'urnal' ofl V' said swivelling membei-'adaptedto register 1 with one ofv said perforations in said tubular vpost, and plug, and a pin through sai'dhol'e be built between anytvvo planes; Theplanes 5. In av partition, aplurality of extensible i pilasters'sueh kas described inclaim '3, said pilasters being extended'totheceiling, and a, ceiling strip through and fitted into the several U 'shaped membersforining pilasters suoli as described inclaim 3, said pila-sters being extended to theY ceiling, ceiling strip throughand iittedinto' the yseveralfU,shapedA members forming part of the* structure'of said'rpilasters, a cross vrailv un'derfsaid ceiling strip, and a cornice adapted to hold `said cross Lrail and 'ceilifiig'f strip"together.V Y f v x77. ln a partition, a pluralityof extensible pilastersfsuch' as described in claim 3, said pilasters being extendedto the iceiling, a .ceiling A*strip through and ttedinto the .U` shaped members forming part ofthe structure vof :saidp-ilasters, a floor strip under `said partition, and a plate between-f5 the floor' and said 'floor strip' provided withI sharp edged flanges adapted to sink into saidfloon p i 8. The combination with a partition co1n-r prising` a `plurality of pilasters and a corresponding'number of partition sectionsA between and joined to said pilasters, of floor strips under said partitioingrooves in said'y floor strips adapted `to receive the lovverk 'se f part of f' edges of said partition sections, and plates Y between'the floor and said floor stripsy providedwith sharp edged flanges adapted to sink into said floor. Y

9. An'cextensible pilasterV comprising al i main hollow post, an extension 'postv- Within saidV hollow "post, an extension member adaptedto be raised bya helical motion, and means for raising said extension post when said extension member is raised.

1 0. A partition comprising a plurality Y i of extensible pilastersand a corresponding i numberof partition sectionsbetweenand Joined to .said pilastei s, each pilaster 'comf prising a main hollow post, an extensionv ile,k

post within'saidhollowpost, and an exten-v i.

sion ymember adapted `to be raised bya heli-V cal motion; means.y for raising said extension posts when said extension members 'arev raised; and means for raising said partition bvadding sections-thereto and connecting said additional 'sectionsto said extension` posts and to the original partition sections..-

iii

11 In an extensible pilaster between a floor and a ceiling, a'inain hollow' post resting on said floor, an extension member therein, means for rai'sing said extension member to and causingit to exert pressure on said ceiling,- and independent means for holding said pilaster in position by locking tension member for said post movable longitudinally with respect thereto, a ceiling' 'strip on said ceiling, means tor raisingsaid extension member to said ceiling strip, and

means, co-operating with said ceiling strip,

for locking said extension `member in said .raised position.

'llalna partition, a pilaster comprising a stationary post, an' extension member movable longitudinally with respect thereto, and a separate facing movable with said member and adapted to form an extension of said post. n c l5. A partition comprisingl a plurality of eXtensible pilasters and ja corresponding number of partition 4sections between and joined to said pilasters,y each pilaster comprising a stationary post, an extension member movable longitudinally with respect thereto, and a facing movable .with said member and adapted to .form an extension of said post, and means for extending said partition by adding sections thereto and connecting said additional sections to said extension posts and. to said original partition sections.

1G. ln a partition between a floor anda ceiling, a ceiling strip on said ceiling, a post abutting said floor and ysaid ceiling strip, a U shaped member on said post embracing said strip, and means for holding said postin position by pressure oii said iioor and on said ceiling strip. Y

17. In a partition between a iioor and a ceiling, a ceiling strip on said ceiling', a wall comprising a plurality of posts abutting said floor and said ceiling strip, U shaped meinbers on saidpposts embracing said ceiling strip, and means for holding said wall in positionby pressure of said posts on said tloor and on said ceiling strip.

18.. ln an vextensible pilaster, a post, a

jacket over said Ypostv adapted for longil tudinal movement relatively thereto, a collapsible facing for said jacket 'adapted to be mov-ed therewith, means `on said post and on said jacket cooperating to hold said jacket in a fixed position relatively to said post, and means for releasing said jacket for said longitudinal Y movement.

sAMiiEitV LowY.

Patent No. "m46, 651i.

Gmied @ember 25, i927, to

SAMUEL LQWY.

ieaima o the nes 124 and on" m insert instead ef@ Paent shoud be read wi th inf www 'Eage 39 l fwn.

@have withered paisa. 25, c @im we snik-s "above said main post" e wms "hy a bei sa mm and m me' d Lem hs cerfecin hemn wat in the Paen 'ce.

y @Gaiam 'w ik@ record of the case Signed and seae isis Z day M. E. Muore, ling Commissioner of Patents. 

